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Bringing A 69 Commando Back To Life

R

RussK

Member
I picked up this 69 Commando, little bit rusty.... OK... it weighs a few pounds lighter than it should.
I have to figure out where to start. I am wanting it to be about original as it can be without spending an arm and a leg on it. It's a V6 with a automatic. Not sure if we will be going back with the original color, because i made the mistake of telling my wife that she could pick the color for it. IMG_E8838.JPG6
 
Looks like a good project. Just do it a step at a time.
It is tempting to completely dissemble it and take forever to get it all back together again.
Clean it, drive it and fix the rust a little at a time and enjoy it! Otherwise it may turn into a self-eating watermelon.

I like it. That's some patina right there!

Dave
 
  • Now we need to get it into the shop.
Dave Deyton said:
Looks like a good project. Just do it a step at a time.
It is tempting to completely dissemble it and take forever to get it all back together again.
Clean it, drive it and fix the rust a little at a time and enjoy it! Otherwise it may turn into a self-eating watermelon.

I like it. That's some patina right there!

Dave
Click to expand...
You would think at 60+years old I would have learned better, but I still have this bad habit of jumping in with both feet.
 
1st thing is to get it in the shop and get it to start. Wife pulled with our garden tractor.
I removed the air cleaner, which totally rusted away and dumped a lot of *** down the carb.
Trying to remove the carb, the two front bolts broke off in the intake. Drilling out the bolts I managed to save threads on one side, Hele coiled the other one.
Cleaned out the carb, and intake carefully and ran a compression test.
Had good compression on 5 cylinders, low on one. Turning over you can tell it has a sticking intake valve on one cylinder.
Changed oil and I added some oil to cylinders, and after turning over for a little bit it sounded better.
I reinstalled carburetor, sanded the points, filled up the float bowl and dumped a little down its throat.
It started right up, smoothed out after about 10 seconds and ran great. A lot better than expected. IMG_8871.JPG IMG_8872.JPG IMG_8871.JPG IMG_8871.JPG IMG_8872.JPG
IMG_8871.JPG IMG_8872.JPG
 
Took off the top, trying to see which will be the best way of reviving this. It needs full inner and outer rockers, all floors, including partially up the fire wall. Not mentioning the sides and front fenders.
Removed front and rear seats, tailgate. Doors do not line even because of too much metal missing in important places. A side impact with a runaway shopping cart would be devastating, and just totally embarrassing that a shopping cart could fold this in two. It is that weak.
I can see some......... LOTS....... of metal work in my future. IMG_8941.JPG
 
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Removed the center console and found about the only place it has good sheet metal. This has had some very bad repairs over the years, mutable sheets just placed over the rust and welded in, tons of Bondo in rockers. Did I mention that I found some more rust?? LOL Supprised that the rust is this bad with all the oil leaks this thing has had going. IMG_8940.JPG .
 
Well I was going to recommend driving it while the good weather lasts before tearing into the Commando. But, your C seems structurally compromised.

I am concerned though that if the repairs take more than one off season, you might lose motivation.

Keep the engine in running condition while performing rust repairs. Start the engine at least once a month. Sit in it, make off roading noises....seriously. It helps.
 
Stakebed said:
Well I was going to recommend driving it while the good weather lasts before tearing into the Commando. But, your C seems structurally compromised.

I am concerned though that if the repairs take more than one off season, you might lose motivation.

Keep the engine in running condition while performing rust repairs. Start the engine at least once a month. Sit in it, make off roading noises....seriously. It helps.
Click to expand...


If my wife caught me sitting in it making VROOM VROOM sounds , she would have me committed, once she stopped laughing. ....... So I will have to time it when she is at work but if I do get caught I will blame it on my dinking problem that I'm about to begin. .......:beer:
 
Hi Russ -

Not to rain on your parade ... You might not get too committed to this project before you research replacement panel's availability. I suspect there are none. This model is both old and an oddball without high production numbers.

You can repair it ... I think you'll have to fabricate all the replacement steel though. There are plenty of examples of similar restoration projects online to take inspiration from. Usually these are rare/valuable cars (ie R-code Galaxies and such) or cars that have deep emotional ties to the owner. Check the tutorials by MP&C (IIRC Maryland Paint and Custom) on the Garage Journal forum https://www.garagejournal.com/forum/threads/mp-c-shop-projects.182565/ - just to get an idea of what you are in for.

The alternative is to part-out this one and look for a better example. Easiest now before you are too attached to it and have invested time (sunk cost fallacy applies though).
 
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timgr said:
Hi Russ -

Not to rain on your parade ... You might not get too committed to this project before you research replacement panel's availability. I suspect there are none. This model is both old and an oddball without high production numbers.

You can repair it ... I think you'll have to fabricate all the replacement steel though. There are plenty of examples of similar restoration projects online to take inspiration from. Usually these are rare/valuable cars (ie R-code Galaxies and such) or cars that have deep emotional ties to the owner. Check the tutorials by MP&C (IIRC Maryland Paint and Custom) on the Garage Journal forum https://www.garagejournal.com/forum/threads/mp-c-shop-projects.182565/ - just to get an idea of what you are in for.

The alternative is to part-out this one and look for a better example. Easiest now before you are too attached to it and have invested time (sunk cost fallacy applies though).
Click to expand...
A quick check of partsdude 4x4 showed inner and outer rocker panels and rear cargo floor. I suspect he has more than that.
 
This one definitely fits into that category. Ive been looking into the prices of body panels versus building them, Or possibly just getting a donor vehicle.
 
timgr said:
Hi Russ -

Not to rain on your parade ... You might not get too committed to this project before you research replacement panel's availability. I suspect there are none. This model is both old and an oddball without high production numbers.

You can repair it ... I think you'll have to fabricate all the replacement steel though. There are plenty of examples of similar restoration projects online to take inspiration from. Usually these are rare/valuable cars (ie R-code Galaxies and such) or cars that have deep emotional ties to the owner. Check the tutorials by MP&C (IIRC Maryland Paint and Custom) on the Garage Journal forum https://www.garagejournal.com/forum/threads/mp-c-shop-projects.182565/ - just to get an idea of what you are in for.
The alternative is to part-out this one and look for a better example. Easiest now before you are too attached to it and have invested time (sunk cost fallacy applies though).
Click to expand...

I totally understand what you are saying, and it is sound advice.
It is so very common for people to jump into things and be over what the end results would be worth in time and money.
There is no sentimental value as of yet, but we have always wanted one.
I'm retired and tinkering is my way of keeping my sanity, luckily with my wife's approval, and it's cheaper than laying on a couch talking to a therapist or alcohol.
We are about to pick up another one, (someone's else's forgotten project) then we will decide where to go afterwards.
 
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